Welcome to our coverage of Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE! We'll be bringing you all the latest news about the return of Europe's largest family history show to London's Olympia from 25 – 27 February, which last year attracted more than 14,000 people for three days of expert advice, celebrity talks and specialist workshops – and, of course, the chance to meet fellow family historians.

If you didn't go, you can download handouts from many of the Society of Genealogists talks for free here and the notes from the Ancestry.co.uk talks from here.

► In the Ancestry.co.uk Academy, 'Around the World: Using records from North America, Australia and elsewhere' with Nick Barratt will now run from 12–12.45pm

► Also in the Ancestry.co.uk Academy, 'Family Tree Maker 2011: What's new in the popular genealogy software?' will now run from 1pm–1.45pm and 'Getting started: finding out how to begin your family tree' will run from 2pm-2.45pm

► In the WDYTYA? Theatre/SOG 1 at 2pm-2.45pm, meanwhile, the workshop will be 'Opening up genealogical records: starting your family research' with Nick Barratt

► In the WDYTYA? Theatre/SOG 1 at 10am-10.45am and 11am-11.45am, Ainsley Harriott will be taking you behind the scenes

► In the Ancestry.co.uk Academy, 'Getting started: how to begin your family tree' will now run from 10am-10.45am

► In the WDYTYA? Theatre/SOG 1 at 4pm-4.45pm, a workshop on Caribbean genealogy will be led by Carlston Walters, Fathia Warren and Sharon Tomlin

friday 25 February

3.09pm We're signing off for the day now, but have a great rest of the afternoon if you're attending today's show. Full coverage of the next two days is above, and we'll be updating you with the latest news throughout the weekend.

2.27pm "It's my first visit to this event this year, and wondered if anyone has any tips for newbies like me?" asks Helen on our forums. If anybody does have any suggestions, head over and share them...

2.06pm Time for a quick post-lunch round-up: the first day of this year's Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE is now in full swing, with hundreds of family historians gathering for expert advice, specialist workshops and celebrity speakers. Deputy editor Claire's just sent this in: "Not looked at my watch for two hours – it's very, very busy!" We'll have further coverage for the next hour, and then pick things up again tomorrow morning.

12.33pmWho Do You Think You Are? Magazine editor Sarah Williams will be giving a talk entitled 'Give yourself the Who Do You Think You Are? treatment' at tomorrow's show – click here to find out more

12.16pm Just been sent this picture from Aimee on our marketing team, showing the stand as we were getting set up this morning. Suffice to say it isn't quite this quiet any more...

11.20am This just in from our deputy editor, Claire: "Just arrived on a packed train from Earl's Court – everyone excitedly swapping family history notes. Not long after 11am and it's in full swing already! Good to see such a range of age groups, too. Just walked past the findmypast.co.uk stand and they are ministering to their gathered flock about parish records..."

11.04am "Just saw the legend Eric Knowles at Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE," tweets FamilyTreeUK. Eric will be around today and Sunday to help you learn more about your family's heirlooms

10.58am If you're thinking of coming to the show either tomorrow or Sunday, you might want to have a look at the full timetables for both Saturday and Sunday (PDF files open in new windows).

10.36am Sara Bailey has posted on our Facebook page about her frustration about not being able to make this year's show. If you can't make it this weekend, don't worry – we'll have video footage of all the highlights on this site over the coming weeks.

9.59am And we're off! News from Ancestry.co.uk: "Olympia is looking good and already loads of people queueing outside!" [link]

9.30am From the Society of Genealogists over on our Twitter feed: "Society of Genealogists centenary history book launch at #WDYTYALive. SoG A 100 years of Family History on sale stand 1025" [link]

9.21am Under 40 minutes to go! For a full version of today's timetable, click here (PDF opens in a new window). There are a few minor changes from the schedule printed in the showguide:

► The Society of Genealogists' regional workshop 'The differences between Irish and English records' will now be led by Paul Manzor

► Nick Barratt will be appearing in the WDYTYA? Theatre/SOG 1 from 2.30pm until 3.15pm to talk about 'Family history and the media: The joy of personal heritage'

► In the Ancestry.co.uk Academy from 3.30pm to 4.15pm, Tony Robinson will be giving a talk entitled 'Occupations in focus'

► In the WDYTYA? Theatre/SOG 1 at 5.30pm-6pm, Jan Gow will be leading a workshop exploring New Zealand genealogy online

9.02am If you are thinking of heading to the show in London's Olympia but don't have tickets yet, it's worth mentioning that although they're no longer available to buy online you still may be able to pick some up on the door. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are still on offer via the show's website, however.

8.55am The big day is finally here! With little more than a hour until the doors to this year's Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE open, we'll be bringing you the latest news as it happens. You can click here for the day's full listings, and don't miss our Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/wdytyamagazine) for updates from the whole Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine team.

Thursday 24 February

15:09 If you're interested in attending but haven't got your tickets yet, don't worry – there's still plenty of time. You can either buy them online at the Who Do You Think You Are? LIVE website (please note that a £2 booking fee applies). We're exclusively able to offer readers the chance to buy two tickets for just £25 – simply click on the 'Book tickets now' button and enter the code WDYTYA2425 (but be quick – this offer ends on 26 February).

We use cookies to improve your experience of our website. Cookies perform functions like recognising you each time you visit and delivering advertising messages that are relevant to you. Read more here